St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-04-30

said commission may, from time to TIME,
make or amend such general rules OF OF
1ers as NAV be requisite for the order ana
regulation of proceedings before II, III
Guiding forms of notices and the service
thereof, which shall conform, as nearly as
NAV be, to those in use III the courts VI
the United States. Any party may ap-
near before said commission ana De hearu,
in person or by attorney. Every vote ana
official act of the commission shall be en-
tered of record, and its proceedings shail
be public upon the request OF either party
interested. Said commission shall nave
an official seal, which shall be Judiciary
noticed. Either of the members OF the
may administer oaths ana
Salaries, Expenses, Etc.
Sec. 1S. That each commissioner snail
receive an annual salary OF seven thou-
sand five hundred dollars, payable III
the same manner as the salaries OF
Judges of the courts of the United States.
The commission shall appoint secretary,
who shall receive an annual salary Oh
three thousand five hundred dollars,
PAYABLE in like manner. The comHls-
sion shall have authority to employ
and fix the compensation OF such other
EMPLOYEES as it may find necessary to the
proper performance Of its duties, subject
TO the approval of the secretary OF the IN
terror.
The commission shall be furnished by
the secretary of the interior with suitable
offices and all necessary office supplies.
Witnesses summoned before the commits
sion shall be paid the same fees and mile
aye that are paid witnesses in the courts
of the United States. Al Of the expenses
of the commission. including all necessary
expenses for transportation incurred by
he commissioners. or by their employees
1nder their orders, in making any lnYeS-
:igatiOn in any other places than in the
2ity Of Washington, shall be allowed and
paid, on the presentation OF iteLnZed
vouchers therefor approved by the chair
man Of the commission and the secretary
of the interior.
General and Special Sessions.
Sec. 10. That the principal office of the
shall be III the city OF Wash
ingtOn, where its general sessions shall be
held: but whenever the convenience Of the
public or of the parties may be promoted
or delay or expense prevented thereby,
the commission may hold s%ecial ses-
sions in any part of the Un.' ed States.
1t NAV. by one or more Of the commits
sioners. prosecute any inquiry necessary
to its duties, in any part OF the mted
States. into any matter or question Of fact
pertaining to the business Of any common
carrier subject to the provisions of this
act.
Annual Reports from Common Carriers
and What They Shall show.
Sec 80. That the commission is hereby
authorized to require annual reports from
all common carriers subject to the pro-
visions of this act, to fix the time and
prescribe the manner liz which such re-
ports shall be made, and to require from
such carriers specific answers to all ques-
lions upon which the commission may
need information. Such annual reports
shall show in detail the amount OF capital
stock issued, the amounts paid therefor
and the manner of payment for the same;
the dividends paid, the surplus fund. If
any, and the number of stockholders: the
funded and floating debts and the interest
paid thereon; the cost and value Of the
carriers property, franchises and
equipments the number Of employees
and the salaries paid each class;
the amounts expended for improve
ments each year, how expended
and the character of such improvements.
the earnings and receipts from each branch
of business and from all sources; the OPP
Grating and other expenses; the balances
of profit and loss; and complete exhibit
of the financial operations of the carrier
each year, including al annual balance
sheet Such reports snail also contain
such information in relation to rates OF
regulations concerning fares or frelgh' ;,
or agreements, arrangements or CONTRACTS
with other common carriers, as the COM
mission may require; and the said com
mission may, within its discretion, for the
purpose of enabling it the better to carry
out the purposes of this act, prescribe ii
in the opinion of the commission it is
practicable to prescribe such uniformity
and methods of keeping accounts) per1oc
of time within which all common carriers
subject to the provisions of this act shall
have, as near as may be, uniform sys
tenn of accounts, and the manner IN Whlcf
such accounts shall be kept.
Free or Reduced Rates-Mileage, Excur
sion OF Communication Tickets-Passe
and Free Transportation.
Sec % That nothing in this aGt shall
apply to the carriage, storage or handling
of property free or at reduced rates for thu
United States, state or municipal govern
ments, or for charitable purposes, or t.
or from fairs and eXpositions for exhibi
ton thereat, or the issuance of mileage
excursion or communication passenger tick
cts; nothing in this act shall be construe'
to prohibit any common carrier from Civ
ing reduced rates to ministers of religion
nothing in this act shall be construed t
prevent railroads from giving free car
riage to their own officers and employees
or to prevent the principal officers Of an
railroad company or companies from eS
changing passes or tickets with other raj
road companies for their officers and en-
ployes; and nothing in this act containe
shall in any way abridge or alter the rem
edies now existing at common law or b
statute, but the provisions of this act ar
in addition to such remedies. Provided
that no pending litigation shall in an
| Nav he affected nv this act